Brain Health & Nutrition

Microbiome and the Brain: A Conversation with Dr. Robynne Chutkan

To be healthy, our bodies require a well-balanced community of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live on and inside our bodies. This “microbiome” is comprised of over 100 trillion microbes, plus their genes. Why we do need these microbes? The answer is counterintuitive: Lack of exposure to bacteria and parasites early in life and antibiotic use increas...

Mediterranean-Style Diets and Cognitive Function in Older Adults

Researchers consider the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet (Mediterranean‐DASH diet Intervention for Neurodegeneration Delay), two of the healthiest choices for older adults due to their connection with enhanced cognitive function. A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society compared the cognitive performance of those who ate the ...

Which Nuts are Best for Brain Health?

Eating nuts may offer you many health benefits. However, there are only a few that researchers deem to be a must-have for brain health. A newly published study says that walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds could be a preventive agent against cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. If you don’t have an allergy to nuts, includin...

Leafy Greens May Reduce Memory Loss and Preserve Cognitive Function

Swapping your iceberg lettuce for a greener leaf may be a healthy way to reduce memory loss and preserve your cognitive abilities. Consuming leafy greens such as spinach, kale, collards, broccoli and turnips can have a significant impact on your brain health. Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that eating one serving (1/2 cup co...

Minorities are expected to have the largest increase in Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias by 2060

The burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) is expected to double by 2060, with minorities having the largest projected increase, according to a new study from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). ADRD affected 5 million people as of 2014 in the U.S., which was 1.6 percent of the population. By 2060, this figure is projected to grow ...

Are Omega-3s Good for Your Brain?

As Captain Joseph R. Hibbeln, MD, acting chief of the Section on Nutritional Neurosciences at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism asserts, “nutrition does not stop at the neck.” Your brain, which is nearly 60 percent fat, requires omega-3 fatty acids to maintain normal function. Omega-3s, essential elements of the membranes that sur...

‘Nutrition does not stop at the neck’

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 8 million people die every year from mental illness. Some cases are attributable to unnatural causes such as suicide and unintentional injuries, while other deaths are due to acute and chronic comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Researchers like Captain Joseph R. Hibbeln, M...

September is World Alzheimer's Month

September 2018 is the seventh annual World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise dementia awareness and challenge stigma. According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds. Worldwide, there are over 50 million people living with dementia in 2018; if effective risk-reduction strategi...

Regular consumption of berries could possibly prevent neurodegenerative and age-related brain dysfunction

Did you know that antioxidants play a huge role in preventing brain degeneration? According to Dr. Kelsey Brenner, a functional neurologist for South Florida Integrative Health, "antioxidants are the clean-up and protection system for the brain." Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries provide an abundant source of antioxidants. A recen...